Pencil sharpening device



March 15, 1949. J. F. GlLLlAM PENCIL SHARPENING DEVICE iled June 26, 1945 Patented Mar. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PENCIL SHARPENING DEVICE Jodie FredGilliam, Barberton, Ohio Application .lune 26, 1945, Serial No. 601,633

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a pencil sharpening device and pertains particulany to adevice of the semi-automatic type.

Aprincipal object` of the present invention is to providesJ pencil' sharpening device designed .tobe mounted upon a iixed support and wherein the movement of a cutter around the inserted end ofthe pencil'is 'brought about by the movement of the pencil itself vin a'circular path.

Another' and more specific object of the invention is to vprovide a pencil sharpening device ofthe type designed to be mounted upon a xed support', wherein there is provided a circular chamberhaving a rotatable end wall ythrough which-the end ofthe pencil is extended in eccentric relation with the rotatable wall, into a rotary cutter supportedin the casing, means being provided in association'with the rotary cutter for `frictional contact with the circular wall of the casing wherebyrotation visirnparted to the cutter uponthel movement'of [the pencil and rotatable 4wall around a fixed center.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the followingV detailed description taken' in connection with `the accompanying drawing forming'apart of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the inventionl is not conned'to a strict Vconformity with the showing `of the drawing "but may be changed or .modied so long as such changes or modications-mark no material departure from the salient featuresof the rinventionas expressed in the appended claims.'

vvIn'the drawing:

ylli'i'gufre 1 is a view Iin iront elevation of a pencil sharpening device constructedin accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a verticalv section, on an enlarged yscale' taken substantially'onlthe line 2-2 of Fig- Cl. 1Z0-95) 2 tubular guide or sleeve I4 to receive a mounting screw I5.

The back wall I2 also is provided with ya number of points or spurs I6 for engagement in the surface against which the sharpeneris secured so as to prevent turning of the housing around the mounting screw I5.

The front wall I3 of the housing forms a closure or cap and is providedk with a central opening Il' in which the forward end of thesleeve I4 engages. The sleeve yI4 forms a pivot post'for the cap or front wall I3 so that the latter may rotate in the housing, and the rhead of the mounting screw functions to retain-the cover or wall I3 in position upon the sleeve.

Inthat portion of the housing I0 which is lowermost when the housing-is mounted, there is provided a shavings discharge openingI and there is detachably mounted uponthe underside of the housing, thereceptacle I9 to receive shavings from the opening I6. Any suitable means may be `employed for mounting the receptacleIQ in position such, for example, as the resilient clips or ngers 20 which have their opposing faces engaged by the ribs or flanges 2l carried by and extending across the opposite sides of the receptacle.

Formed through the rotatable cover wall I3 adjacent to the periphery thereof, is a pencilgreceiving opening 22 and upon the inner side of the wall I3 there is fixed concentrically with-the opening 22 the tubular guide 23, a portion of the inner end of which is of reduced diameter as indicated at 24, to form an arbor'25.

Fixed to the inner side of the rotatable wall I3, as at 26, is a bracket arm 21 which extends inwardly away from the wall I3 and terminates in a bearing eye 28 which is concentric withlthe opening 22 and with the arbor 25.

The numeral 29 designates a tubular axle which receives in one end the arbor 25 upon which it rotates. The opposite end of this Aaxle is tapered to form theconical cutter she'l1'30, the wall of which is provided with a number of spirally directed slots 3| each of whichv is bordered along one edge bythe inwardly directedcuttlng blade 32.

The conical cutter member 30 terminates in the stem 33 which has bearing engagement in the eye 28.

Encircling the tubular axle 29 is the wheel 34, the periphery of which engages the inner surface of the circular wall Il as a result of which when the wall I3 is turned around the tubular sleeve I4, rotary motion will be given to wheel 34 and to the tubular axle and cutter so that an end of an inserted pencil, extended through the tubular axle into the conical cutter unit 30, will be shaved off into a point by the blades 32 and the shavings will drop into the bottom of the housing and pass into the receptacle i9.

The arbor 25 is interiorly tapered toward its free end as indicated at 25a and there extends through the major portion of the guide 23 and the arbor forming the inner end of the guide, a tubular collar 35 which is tapered and which is slit through the major portion of its length from its inner end.

The outer end of the collar 35 has formed therearound a flange 36 and encircling the collar between this flange 3S and a shoulder 3l formed upon the inner side of the guide 23, is the coil spring 38 which normally urges the sleeve 35 outwardly toward the opening 22 thereby disengaging the tapered inner end from the tapered inner wall 3d of the arbor.

Outward movement of the tubular collar under the action of the spring is limited by the tubular insert 23a which is fixed in the outer end of the tubular guide 33 as shown.

Secured to the inner side of the wall i3 is an arm 39 which carries a brush All. This brush is arranged so that it will have the bristles engage the inner surface of the wall in advance oi the vperiphery of the wheel 311 to thus keep the sur- Aslid through into the tapered or conical unit 33 in which the cutter blades are formed. The tapered sleeve 35 holds the pencil against lateral or wobbling movement and after the pencil has been introduced in the manner stated it is used in the nature of a crank to impart turning movement to the vvall I3. As the wall i3 rotates around the sleeve lll the wheel 3, having peripheral contact with the inner side of the circular wall ll, will be rotated, thus turning the cutting blades so as to cut away the wood of the pencil and form a tapered point thereon in the usual manner of pencil Sharpeners.

,a pencil and such device is so designed that it may be economically constructed and is strong and durable.

I claim:

1. A pencil Sharpener comprising a casing having a circular inner wall, a disk-like wall closing said casing and supported for rotation on an axis concentric with said circular wall, the disk-like wall having an eccentric opening for the reception of a pencil, a pencil guide within the casing and concentric with the opening, a tubular axle rotatably supported on said guide, a tapered pencil Sharpener unit forming an axial extension of the inner end of the tubular axle to receive the end of a pencil inserted through the guide and 4 axle, and a wheel carried by the tubular axle and having peripheral contact with said circular wall to impart turning movement to the cutter unit upon the turning of the disk-like wall around the said axis.

2. A pencil Sharpener of the character stated in claim 1, with a bearing bracket secured to the inner side oi' the disk-like wall and connected with and providing a bearing support for the inner end of the Sharpener unit.

3. A pencil Sharpener of the character stated in claim 1, with means supported within the tubular guide for limited axial movement therein and adapted to grip an inserted pencil by the axial movement of the pencil inwardly to maintain the pencil centered in the tubular guide and against lateral movement.

Ll. A pencil Sharpener of the character stated in claim 1, with a longitudinally split tubular sleeve supported in said guide, means limiting axial movement of the sleeve in the guide, the sleeve and guide at their inner endsV being tapered whereby the sleeve, when moved inwardly in the guide, will be contracted about an inserted pencil, and spring means normally urging movement of the sleeve outwardly away from the tapered inner end of the guide to release the pencil.

5. A pencil Sharpener of the character stated, comprising a housing having alcircular inside wall surface, a sleeve forming an integral part of the housing and extending axially therethrough, a disk-like wall closing an end of the housing and supported for turning movement around the sleeve, said disk-like wall having an eccentric pencil receiving opening, a tubular pencil guide secured to the inner side of the disk-like wall concentric with the opening and formed at its inner end to provide an arbor, a bracket secured to the inner side of the disk-like wall and carrying a bearing, a tubular axle having one end receiving and rotatably mounted on the arbor and having its other end formed to provide a conical pencil Sharpener unit and a stem at the apex of said unit, said stem being rotatably supported in the bracket bearing, and a wheel carried by and concentric with the tubular axle and having its periphery contacting the circular wall of the housing.

6. A pencil Sharpener of the character stated in claim 5, ink which said arbor is interlorly tapered at its free inner end, a sleeve member disposed within the pencil guide and arbor and having its inner end tapered for extension into the tapered portion of the arbor, the said inner end of the sleeve being longitudinally split for the reduction of the sleeve diameter at its inner end, means forming an outwardly facing shoulder inside the guide, said sleeve having aflange upon its outer end in opposed rel-ation .with the shoulder, and a coil spring encircling the sleeve between the flange and shoulder and normally urging movement of the sleeve outwardly toward the pencil receiving opening.

7. A pencil Sharpener of the character stated in claim 5, with a brush unit supported upon the inner side of the disk-like wall and contacting the circular inner wall surface in advancev of the wheel for the removal of shavings therefrom.

-8. A pencil sharpener as set forth in claim 6, in which said arbor is interlorly tapered at its free end, a sleeve member disposed within the pencil guide and arbor and having its inner end tapered for extension into the tapered portion of the arbor, the said inner end of the sleeve being longitudinally split for the reduction of the 5 sleeve diameter at its inner end, means forming REFERENCES CITED an outwardly facing shoulder inside the guide The following references are of record in the said sleeve having a flange upon its outer end in opposed relation with the shoulder and a coil me of this patent' spring encircling the sleeve between the flange 5 UNITED STATES PATENT and shoulder and normally urging movement of the sleeve outwardly toward the pencil receiving Nugrli Lovmme Novnzatelam opening, and a brush member supported upon the 620862 Wheex Mai, 7 1899 inner side of the disk-like wall and having opera- 8312753 StutesmaB-'l "Sept '25 1906 tive connection with the periphery of the wheel 10 1 038112 er Sept: 10 1912 t keep the latter free of Shavings- 212541772 Bur1eitn't a1. sepc.2:1941

JODIE FRED GILLIAM. FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 106,629 Australia June 10, 1927. 

